The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-06-18
sAsAsr ASxslssARy Occasion.

On Thursday ca hn A. tagg ofthis
place reached the OF eighty years;
and the event was the occasion of
very pleasant 4 ance. Capt. M.
]. Fagg, son of the Able gentleman,
entertained at HI AAse quite a
large party Of q A some of
whom had know Oh Fsgg for
half a century; tbe othkrs # the party
were among the mGss prominent gentle
men of Asheyille. Ne recent acquain-
tances. The entertA Ao0ScN was an ele'
gant and lavish of>Naa the hearty
hospitality of the hPsts waer as heartily
enjoyed.
The central objeotof interest was Col,
Fagg himself, a native OF Tennessee, but
for nearly sixty years identified with the
fortunes and intereets OF Asheville. We
do'not propose to enter into q biograph
ical sketch; but we 10 propose to Aote
some points whiufs Identify Col Fagg
with thtIA istnry IL - ~ gGrolinR and
of the country.
When the battles of Palo Alto and Re.
SAGA de la ! alma fixed the reality of war
eral States for volunteer regiments to CO.
operate with the regular army, then in
the field. and constituting very small
and inadequate force. North Carolina
responded very p :omptly, and q regiment
was raised without difficulty; and the
staff officers were chosen and commits.
stoned by William A. Graham then Gov
ernor of the State.
At the session of the General Assem-.
bly, OF 1915, Robert Treat Paine was the
member of the House Of Commons
then SO called-from the county Of
Cho 'an, and John A. Fagg was one OF
the Repr 4sentatives from Buncombe.
With these gentlemen Mr.. Graham, be.
fore elected Governor had become ac.
quainted; and they presented character.
istics that seemed to justify him in select
ing, the first as Colonel of the Regiment
and the second as Lieutenant Colonel;
and Montford Stokes was commissioned
as Major.
Tho regiment was ordered to rendez-
vous at Smithville, which it did sometime
in the month of February, lS47. and
remained in camp for several weeks un.
dergoing lessons In drill and the general
duties of the soldier. 1t embarked early
in March for Brazos Santiago, in the
brig Samuel N. GotU and the schooner
Harrison Price; and one or two compan-
les subsequently sailed in another vessel
the rame of which VIC do not recall Col.
Fagg was on the Harrison Price, and the
writer of this was witness to the casting
Oft of the lines of the vessels from the
rickety wharf at Smithvile, the hosting
of the sails, and the safe eros sing over the
bar out into the open sea.
There was daguerotype artist OH hand
to obtain d picture of the interesting
spectacle. His art was not quite so quick
in its work as modern photography; and
the instantaneous process" of the pres
ent was preceded by one that occupied
two or three minu' es. But very salts.
factory picture was made; and mention
ing our experience to Col. Fagg, he in.
formed us he had it.
The battle of Buena, Vista was fought
on the 22nd and 23rd of February, l847;
and after the defeat Of the Mexicans,
they retired far into the interior. So
that the North Carolina troops arrived
too late to participate in any general &C.
ton. In fact there was none subsequ-
emily on Taylor's line of movement, but
guerlllas swarmed and attacked every
wagon train that ventured on the road
those going up to the army offering rich
spoil to tho depredators. This compel
led large military escorts: and the attacks
and repnlses of the guerillas offered the
sole warike experience had on this line
alter the battle of Buena Vista. In this
service the men of North Carolina were
constantly employed. The fine state of
discipline to which the regiment had b zen
brought by the skill and the sternness
OF its officers had earned for it the reputa. |
ton of being the best drilled, the best
disciplined, and the most reliable
volunteer regiment in the service.
Col. Fagg won his full share of credit
tor the cauees Of the efficiency of the re-
glment; and his executive ability was re-
cognized by his appointment to the com
mand, as Military Governor, of the town
OF Ceralvo, all important post on the line
OF communication from Matamoras to |
Monterey.
At the close of the war the regiments
returned to the United States, Col. Fagg
with four companies debarking at Old |
VI" SOhAOtC' hoNI WulCn plaCe ne Td- |
turned home.
His subsequent years have been passed |
here. He had been until within few
years active in local politics, and was for
some years post master of Asheville. OF
late, in somewhat enfzbled health but
with unimpaired faculties, he has spent
his days unuisturbed by care or labor
He is one of the few survivors among
the officers Of rank who accompanied i
him to foreign field of war. Col. Paine
died in Texas long since, while U. s.
commissioner to settle Mexican bound
ary dispute; Major Stokes was killed at
the battle of Seven Pines. Most of the
higher officers are dead, and Col. Fagg
stands almost the sole living memorial
of stirring and proud period of Amer
lean history Long NAV he survive.